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Chuck Schumer did the right thing — cut him some slack

9 2
31.03.2025

If not for Signalgate, Democrats would likely still be busy lashing out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who allowed a Republican spending bill to pass, thus averting a government shutdown.

For the last few weeks, Schumer has found himself the target of attacks from within his own party over his and nine other Democratic senators’ decision, despite what was, ultimately, the correct decision.

I say this for two reasons. First, contrary to Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) contention that Schumer should have opposed the bill rather than “roll over and give up,” Democrats would have completely owned a government shutdown. Indeed, President Trump and Republicans would have been able, with ease, to lay the blame at the foot of congressional Democrats, saying they shut down the government and harmed Americans purely out of political spite. Interestingly, then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made this exact same decision in 2021, when he went against his own party in an attempt to prevent a shutdown.

Moreover, as Schumer and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) have

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